The Maori race, as it now is, seems to be in its old age; but it must once in some former time have had its youth, when, in buoyancy of spirit and yet simplicity of mind, it saw in the surrounding nature and natural phenomena beings of a higher order, to whom the national poets gave names and a history. This must have been before they came to New Zealand, as these names, and a similarity of the mythology attached to them, are to be found among the whole Polynesian race, and may likely be traced back still farther. Ethnology might be assisted if all who are in a position among uncivilized races to do so, would make themselves acquainted with their mythology and ancient tales, and then communicate the result to scientific men, who might thereby trace the development and migration of the races. The ancient tales among the Maori have been handed down through many generations by word of mouth only. The tohunga, or wise men among them, told those tales over and over again, almost always in the same words, so that the younger ones, who had a mind for learning, learnt them by rote, and could impart them in the same way to a following generation. Still discrepancies would creep in, and deeds which in some localities are imputed to one personage, in others are imputed to another. But that is of no consequence. Although some tales may have been built on facts, and if even these could be stripped of the fictions, which they cannot, they would not be of the least historical value, as they lie altogether outside the bounds of general history.

Tangaroa Tangaroa is known and worshipped by the whole Polynesian race as the chief god and creator of the world. His name is also well known among the Maori in New Zealand, and occurs frequently in the ancient forms of invocations. Sometimes he might be seen for a few seconds standing on the crest of the waves of the sea, when the sun happened to shine against some misty spray, but little else is known of him. According to Sir George Grey's collection he was the son of Heaven and Earth, and was the god, or personification, of the sea and the fishes. But here in the south he is affirmed to be the uncle of Heaven, and the first husband of the Earth, whose personal name as a woman and a mother was Papatuanuku. The tale runs thus:— Tangaroa lived with his wife Papatuanuku. Once he made a journey to Kahuipuakiaki for the treasures (or ornaments) of Whakitau (not to be confounded with Whakatau, a later person). When he came back he found that Rangi (Heaven) had taken his wife, Papatuanuku (the Earth), and was living with her. Now there was to be a fight. The two, uncle and nephew, met, each armed with a spear. Rangi threw his spear first, but missed, because Tangaroa bent aside. Then Tangaroa threw his spear, which pierced both loins of Rangi and lamed him. Then Tangaroa left his wife, the Earth, and she was henceforth Rangi's wife. (This is all that is known here about Tangaroa). I noho a Tangaroa i a Papatuanuku.—Ka haere a Tangaroa ki waho, ki te Kahuipuakiaki, ki nga taonga o Whakitau. Ko hoki tera, hoki rawa mai, kua noho te wahine, a Papatuanuku, i a Rangi. Ka hemo mai a Tangaroa ki te huata; ka hemo mai a Rangi ki te huata. Ka tata mai. Werohia e Rangi ki a Tangaroa, ka ngaro a Tangaroa, ko taha te huata a Rangi. Ka werohia e Tangaroa ki a Rangi, ka whiti te tao te papa o te iramutu, taua rua o nga papa: takoto tou a Rangi. Ka tukua te wahine ki a Rangi. Inaianei, ka kitea te atua uira, e tu ana i runga o te ngaru o te moana, ko Tangaroa tena.

Tutakahinahina and Te Roiroiwhenua The following tale bears some marks of a later period; also I cannot find the names mentioned in it among the gods of the Pacific islanders; yet, as the old Maori here told it in connection with Tangaroa, I will put it here. It runs thus:— He tangata; haere noa tenei tangata i runga i te mata o nga wai: ko Tutakahinahina te ingoa o tenei tangata. Kahore ia ana matua. Ka noho ia taua tangata i te wahine, ko Kaihere te ingoa o tenei wahine. Ka puta ki waho Tutakahinahina walked upon the waters. He had no parents. His wife's name was Kaihere. They had one son, called Te Roiroiwhenua.